It’s the big question that causes rifts among friends, divides family members and even generates heated debate between strangers – do you sleep with your bra on or off?
Out of habit, I’m #TeamOff, largely due to a rumour I once heard from a (likely ill-informed) school friend that you need to let your boobs “breathe”. Plus, is there any better feeling than walking in the door and embracing the freedom of removing your bra?
Plenty of my friends are strident #TeamOn supporters though, claiming that they’re doing their bit to battle gravity and keep their boobs ‘perky’. (That made me stop and reconsider, I tell you!)
Add to that headlines claiming there are links between wearing bras to bed and breast cancer or cysts and you have a whole lot of us stressing. Not fun.
So which is actually best and what are the myths that are breast forgotten? We found out.
Myth 1: Sleeping in your bra gives you breast cancer.
Although the subject of a 1995 book entitled Dressed to Kill, you can rest easy knowing this is false.
“Wearing your bra to bed will not cause a girl to develop cancer or stunt her breast growth. It’s also not true that underwire bras cause breast cancer,” said Mary L. Gavin MD, Senior Medical Editor, KidsHealth.

Image: iStock
2. Is it bad for your breast health?
"There is no scientific evidence to confirm that sleeping in your bra is damaging to breasts," says Louisa McKay Managing Director, Costhetics.
However, things can get uncomfortable if your bra is the wrong size.
"Wearing a constrictive bra to sleep affects the physiology of the breast. It can impair the blood flow and lymphatic drainage, which, at worst, can lead to chronic inflammation, oedema (fluid retention) and discomfort," Professor Kefah Mokbel, lead breast surgeon at the London Breast Institute told Bustle.
Listen: How often do you wash your bra? The Mamamia Out Loud team discuss. Post continues after audio.
3. You really shouldn't sleep in underwire bras.
This one is 100 per cent true.